Putting Andros Townsend in the England squad was a risk, admits Roy Hodgson

Risk paid off: Townsend scored his second goal for England against San Marino (Image: Getty)

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England boss Roy Hodgson last night admitted he had taken a "risk" on keeping faith with Andros Townsend – but warned he will not allow sentiment to determine his squad.

Townsend, who starred 12 months ago as England qualified for the World Cup he missed through injury, has started just two Premier League games for Spurs in 2014.

But the winger came off the Wembley bench to score a scintillating goal in the romp over the hapless minnows of San Marino.

And while Hodgson conceded he cannot allow loyalty to overrule footballing logic, the England boss agreed Townsend had deserved his show of affection.

Hodgson said: "It is not just loyalty. It is more the qualities he has got, that enormous pace, that ability to strike the ball.

Frozen out: Townsend has been restricted to cup competitions so far this term (Image: Getty)

"He has obviously been full of beans in the training sessions and you saw how anxious he is to play and show us that he deserves a place in the team. All those things played a part in my mind.

"He is always a risk, of course, because if you choose someone like that – for the qualities you know he has got, and he cannot show them – you run the risk of people saying, ‘Why are you picking him because he hasn’t played for his club team?’

"But he has justified my selection for doing the things I want him to do. You have to be careful with loyalty. Of course, you like to show loyalty but loyalty has to be to players who constantly prove they deserve to to be there.